Pneumatic life-belt.



PATENTED JUNE 16. 1903. J. A. MALMQVIST.

I PNEUMATIC LIFE BELT.

APPLICATION FILED 1116.20.1902.

11p MODEL.

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IEatented June 16, 1903.

Prion JOHAN A. MALMQVIST, OF CAMPELLO, MASSACHUSETTS.

PNEUMATIC LIFE-BELT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,314, dated June 16, 1903. Application filed August 20, 1902 Serial No. 120,373. (No model.)

. as a safety device by bathers or persons learning to swim, as will hereinafter be more fully shown and described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure l is a perspective view of the improved pneumatic life-belt shown inflated and showing a portion of one end broken away for the better illustration of the construction of the same. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2 shown in Fig. 1; and Fig.

3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3', also shown in Fig. l.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawings.

The invention consists of a flexible waterproof, preferably rubber-coated, belt A,Which is divided longitudinally in two or-more pockets B B, closed at their endsat O O, as shown. At one place on said waterproof belt its pockets are connected by means of perforations D D, going through the adjoining walls of the pockets, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so as to cause all the pockets to be pneumatically expanded by inflating one of them, as shown. To one of said pockets I secure a perforated socket or valve-stem E, adapted to be covered with a perforated cap or valve 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Such valve-stem and cap may be of any well-known construction, similar to 0 what is used on pneumatic bicycle-tires, for the purpose of inflating the belt when it is to be used and prevent the escape of the air from the inflated belt when in use. The ends of the improved belt are provided with suitable straps, tying-strings, &c., F. F, or other suitable fastening devices for securing the belt to the body of the person using it.

By making this my improved belt of a series of parallel connected pockets, as above described, instead of as a single tube of corresponding buoyancy I am enabled to produce a comparatively thin belt which can be strapped around the body below the armpits without interfering with the free movements of the arms of the wearer when in or out of the water.

When not in use, the belt may be deflated and folded into a very smallspace, so as to be carried in the coat-pocket or otherwise, as may be most convenient.

What I wish to secure by Letters Patent and claim is- The herein-described pneumatic life-belt comprising a plurality of longitudinally-extending tubes 13 attached to each other and having their ends flattened and closed by strips 0, said tubes communicating with each other; attaching means for said belt, and means for inflating said tubes.

In testimony whereof I have afl'ixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHAN A. MALllIQVI'ST. Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDRIJN, CHARLES H. SMITH. 

